THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 115 



smaller peculiarities by a distinctive generic name, and that still, with every 

 disposition to be particular, both Mr. Scudder and myself, finding that we 

 cannot separate certain species genetically, i. e. the species of Polygonia, 

 Smcrinthits, etc., are justified in feeling that our genera stand on a scientific 

 basis. There must be differences of opinion in Entomology as in other 

 matters. For instance, Mr. Morrison describes under the name of Agrvtis 

 scropulana* a species from the White Mountains, and says of it that its 

 " delicate shades of brown, blue and creamy white place it among the 

 most beautiful in the Noctuidae." And another species, called by him 

 Agrotis opipara, "almost approaches * the first " in beauty.'' The first 

 to me seems very like the Labradorian Pachnobia carnea. the latter like 

 Agrotis islandica. And it is obvious here that, if these resemblances are 

 founded, we must examine our appreciation of the generic characters of 

 Pachnobia carefully, that we may come to a clear understanding of whether 

 we have to do with an Agrotis or not. And again, if my suggestions 

 eventuate, we will have fresh affinities of the Mount Washington Insect 

 Fauna with that of Labrador, and more material to illustrate the relation- 

 ship of the animals which formerly may have taken refuge on Mount 

 Washington during a period of the decline of the Glacial Epoch, when 

 the body of the species moved further north. 



ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 



Drasteria erichtea. Cram. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



In fig. 12 we have this insect in the perfect state well represented. 

 Fis- 12 - Although it is one of our commonest 



moths, a day-flier, abundant almost 

 everywhere, yet we have never heard of 

 its having had a common name bestowed 

 upon it. We are not going to christen 

 it, for we are no admirer of common 

 names where they can be avoided, and we think they can in this instance. 

 Drasteria erichtea is not harsh and unpronounceable, as is the case with 



* Psyche, 1, 42. 



